As the name suggests this breed originates from Turkey.The place of origin is included in the ancient area of Anatolia. The specific place is Eastern Turkey and the surrounding regions in Central and Southwest Asia, centered by Lake Van. Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. The town of Van is on the eastern edge of the lake. The Kurdish people and Armenians consider this cat as part of their lifestyle.

The Turkish Van has been kept as a domestic pet in the region for centuries.

The first importation into England, Europe occurred when 2 people, one of whom was a Mrs Lushington, working on behalf of the Turkish Tourist Board were offered two unrelated cats which they accepted and imported. They returned for 2 more, 4 years later, and began the development of the breed in the UK. The story is vague but apparently, according to a Times newspaper report of 1964, Mrs Lushington tried for 8 years to get to the town of Van to acquire a Turkish Van cat. This doesn’t square with the above. Mrs Lushington pioneered the development of the breed in the West.

A nice bit of religious mythology concerns this cat. Mount Ararat (the place where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the flood) is close by. The Turkish Van (this cat obviously wasn’t called that then) came out of the Ark and was blessed by Allah and where he touched the cat is where the spots are. Conveniently, it was a short walk to the town of Van nearby. This is a thoroughly blessed cat on the basis of this story. It also means that the head markings are significant for this cat breed.

Click on the photo above to see it in larger format.

History

Date

Event

1600-1200 BC

Evidence of Turkish Van type cats in carvings.

Middle Ages-1955

This breed treated as pets to people of Central and Southwest Asia.

1955

2 cats Imported into UK (England).These 2 cats were brought back from Turkey by car including camping on the way3.

1959

2 more cats imported by same couple and breeding in the UK began in earnest it seems leading to full recognition below.

1969

Full Status granted by GCCF (Major UK cat registry).

1970

First Van kittens imported into the USA2.

1982

Imported into USA – relatively recently in terms of some other cat breeds (this conflicts with the 1970 date above).

Current

Fully recognised by GCCF, FiFe, CFA and TICA.

Appearance and Character and More

This is a cat with a quiet voice and a large powerful frame1. There are a number of cat breeds with quiet voices (e.g. Maine Coon and British Shorthair cat to name two). Apparently this breed of cat gained a reputation of being difficult and unpleasant because they were unhappy at cat shows. This was a misconception as they are as nice as any cat breed of random bred cat. They are not that commonly encountered1. My rare cat breeds page indicates that they are in the mid-range for rareness.

The Turkish Van in solidly built1. It is said that they are one of the largest cat breeds1. My research indicates that they are certainly heavier than average but not in the very top bracket of cat breed size.

They are also one of the cat breeds that like water more than usual (another is the Bengal cat and the Savannah cat both wild cat hybrids). This cat likes it so much that some like to swim (hence they are sometimes called “The Swimming Cat”). That is highly unusual in my experience. Most cats don’t like water that much. They are also intelligent and adaptable.

There is a report in the Times newspaper of 1964 about the Turkish Van’s liking of water. Mrs Lushington who first imported this breed into the UK said that they definitely like swimming. This lead to speculation as to why this should be the case. Mrs Lushington recounted the story of a Turkish Van who cured himself of “stomach catarrh by siting in a bath of warm water. It was thought in 1964 (according to the newspaper article) that this cats liking for water may have originated in the salty and pleasant water of Lake Van.

Apparently in Turkey the “Turkish Van” refers to a different cat, the all white Van Kedi (Van cat). In Turkish this cat is called Van Kedisi (referring to the cat in the all white form4). In Turkey the Van is recognised in all white form as well as with the classic Van pattern. Although it is said that a genetisist has confirmed that the Turkish Van is different from the Turkish Angora, I speculate whether this is actually the case.

The Turkish Van Cat Club (UK) says that the breeds markings are Auburn, Cream, Black, Blue, and in Tabbie and Tortie patterns. These colors are an extension of the classic auburn or red solid color. The markings are very distinctly Turkish Van, being restricted to around the ears and tail and contrasting with the white background.

The silky chalk-white fur is “incredibly soft”2. It feels like “mink” according to the Times article of 1964 referred to above. The white is due to an absence of color, which in turn is due to presence of the piebald or white spotting gene (see also cat coats white – new window). A number of cat breeds have the white spotting gene e.g. Japanese Bobtail. This gene affects the migration of color during gestation and restricts it moving throughout the body. Another example of it is in the Tuxedo cat (new window). The amount of white is graded from 1 (no effect of piebald gene, all black) to 10 (all white cat). Read a bit more about it and cat coats generally, here.

The Turkish Van Cat is assertive, independent, active, strong and agile. This cat breed does not have an undercoat. The fur is medium long. In order to provide better protection for the cat in winter the coat thickens and it should be silky and soft. The coat has a cashmere-like texture which makes it “water-resistant” to use the words of watch manufacturers. This may be a symptom of this breeds love of water and the wet cold winters in the part of the world the it comes from.

This cat’s coat requires less than normal grooming and, in addition, this is a healthy breed (no reported specific genetically related health issues). It is not surprising therefore that the Turkish Van cat is one of the most popular breeds based on this site’s favorite breed poll, which you can see on the different cat breeds page.

Go to a page where you can see the photos here plus some more all in a bumper slide show of large format images of the Turkish Van cat plus a résumé of the CFA breed standard and a couple of pictures of Lake Van. What more could you want? – Go the Turkish Van page……

Turkish Van Cat Breeders + Standards

Selected Turkish Van cat breeders from a Google listing (co.uk as at 2008 -things change). These links open in new windows:

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Michael Broad

Hi, I am 70-years-of-age at 2019. For 14 years before I retired at 57, I worked as a solicitor in general law specialising in family law. Before that I worked in a number of different jobs including professional photography. I have a longstanding girlfriend, Michelle. We like to walk in Richmond Park which is near my home because I love nature and the landscape (as well as cats and all animals).

Van cats are mostly white, sometimes have different coloured eyes and come from near lake Van in Turkey as you might expect.

Turkish Van cats usually have the ginger extras but originated from 4 originals from various parts of Turkey and were first bred outside Turkey in the UK in the 1950's. Apparently they are quite difficult to breed.

The name Turkish Van cat is sort of like a trade name to distinguish them from Turkish Angora cats.

The one I had just turned up one day and banged on the window and stayed. I wish I could have cloned it. I'd have made a fortune.

I have two Turkish van cats. Bugs. and Zinny. they are sisters, and are with me all the time. they sleep together at the foot of my bed each night, and get me up at 4:30 AM for their breakfast. They will not leave the house, I can leave the door open, and they will look out but will not go out. They sit or lay in the room I`m in, always with me, if one sits on my lap, the other one will join in, so it`s quite a lap full. I love them and do enjoy them very much.

Hi Michael. You have a very close relationship - the three of you. I love to see that. Out of interest, did you choose to adopt a Turkish Van cat or was it an accident? Thanks for visiting and sharing and Happy Christmas.

P.S. If you have a photo of your cats you can upload it into a comment. The instructions are below this box.